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As incense wafted through the air, Father Steve Bruno, pastor of St. Rita of Cascia Church in Harahan, led a Eucharistic procession with parishioners around the church parish on June 3 after the 11:30 a.m. Mass, on the Feast of Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ).
The Eucharist is considered the source and summit of our Catholic faith. Pope St. John Paul II wrote “The Eucharist is truly a glimpse of heaven appearing on earth.”
Father Bruno said, “ The presence of the Body and Blood of Our Lord will assist in the sanctification of our neighborhood and parish.”
Slidell procession by car
Several churches in Slidell also held their own "Camellia City Eucharistic Procession" on the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ June 3. The Catholic parishes of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Luke the Evangelist and St. Margaret Mary and St. Genevieve participated.
(Above) Holding the monstrance containing the Body of Christ on the Feast of Corpus Christi is Father Francis Offia, parochial vicar of St. Luke the Evangelist, who was chairman of the procession through Slidell streets. With him are Deacons Paul Augustin and Reggie Seymour, and Father Patrick Wattigny, pastor of St. Luke. More than 130 people and 63 cars participated.
Those in the Slidell procession were praying for unity of the city, peace in their homes, city and within law enforcement and for healing to take place so the city and its residents could move to a position of forgiveness and compassion for one another.
The day began with Mass at St. Luke, where the procession started.
Deacon Chris Schneider prays a spiritual reflection June 3 at St. Margaret Mary’s Grotto of Our Lady, one of the churches that participated in the nine-mile driving eucharistic procession in Slidell on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The automobile procession began at St. Luke the Evangelist, proceeded to St. Margaret Mary and ended at Our Lady of Lourdes.
Father W.C. Paysse, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Slidell, holding the monstrance containing the body of Christ. The procession ended here with a Divine Mercy Chaplet, adoration and solemn benediction.